Page 51 of The Marchioness Who Tempted Fate
“So no idea of who hurt him?”
“Not really. He says he had not sent for you, so he doesn’t know why you were outside his study. But then, Smithers says he doesn’t remember much of anything after the two of you parted company in the afternoon.”
“Doesn’t know…Grace, listen. I know Sophie is your friend, but she told me that the Marquess wanted to see me, and that I was to go up to his office.”
“Did she? How odd.” Grace looked worried. “I can’t think why she would have done that if His Lordship had not sent for you. Perhaps the blow on his head made him forget.”
“Perhaps. Is anyone looking for the person who hurt him?”
“Well, they are all looking for you, so I’m not really sure.”
“Except I didn’t do it. Grace, Lord Northbury could be in serious danger. Is there no one who could look into it?”
“Well, there was that retired constable fellow that came to visit that one day,” Grace said thoughtfully.“I guess we could ask him. I think he was a friend of Lord Northbury’s father, and that he managed the details after the hunting accident.”
“The very person. Could you or Lucas somehow talk to him? He might, at least, be willing to listen.”
“I’ll ask Lucas,” Grace promised. “I’m not sure how much either of us will be able to do.”
“Thank you, Grace. As much as I would like my name cleared, I am fearful for Per— Lord Northbury.”
Grace smiled, and touched Tiffany’s shoulder lightly. “I would feel the same if it were Lucas.”
Tiffany blushed and looked down at her hands in her lap. “Am I so transparent as all of that?”
“Oh, Tiffany! Did you think we didn’t know how you feel? No one who has an ounce of sense believes that anything more than words or a glance or two have passed between you, but it would be difficult for you to hide it from all of us.”
“Well, indeed, it is so. I have a great fondness for him, and I am beyond grateful for the care he has taken of me and mine.”
“Indeed, that is plain,” Grace agreed. “And not at all to be wondered at.”
Old Elizabet barked out a laugh. “A great fondness, now that’s one way o’ puttin’ it. Well, devotion to the Marquess is well enough. Just so long as you know that there ain’t nothin’ likely to come of it.”
“I do know,” Tiffany sighed. “But for all that, I do wish for him to be safe and well.”
“Retired Constable,” Elizabet said thoughtfully. “Would that be Constable Brooks?”
“It would,” Grace agreed.
Elizabet nodded. “I’ve met him. He does repairs at the poorhouse and counsels those who are in trouble with the law. He won’t pull punches if they’ve truly done something wrong, but he will tell them what they should do to make reparations. And he helps those who’ve done nothing more than be out of work or become ill.”
“Oh, can you speak with him?” Tiffany asked.
“I can try,” Bet replied. “But he’s not been to the poorhouse for several days now. Some think that he is looking into some matter, while others fear that something has befallen him.”
“Oh, I do hope nothing untoward has happened to him,” Tiffany said, clasping her hands together.
“As do we all.” Elizabet finished setting forth a meal on the small table in the room. “Come, let us break bread together. The others will be at their evening meal before going out to work tonight.”
“What do they do at night?” Tiffany looked interested and a little apprehensive.
“Nothing untoward, I can assure you.” Elizabet busied herself pouring out tea. The strong aroma of mint filled the room. “Cleaning for businesses that don’t want us about during the day, street sweeping, collecting night soil. They’s a lot of work goes on when the gentle folk are sleeping or about their pleasures.”
“And link boys, and the like,” Grace put in. “My younger brother acted as a link boy before he went for a soldier. Now, he rivets harness with a harness maker.”
“Something happened to him?” Tiffany asked apprehensively.
Grace shrugged. “Lost a leg, and lost much of his heart for living. Lucky we were that father was friends with the harness maker. My brother makes a good living now, and one of the harness maker’s daughters has taken a shine to him.”
